The Earth's hydrocarbon resources are exhaustible, this is clear to everyone. The fact that they will not end soon does not relieve the responsibility of scientists who are aware of the need to find new solutions. Modern alternative fuel is made from waste from processing raw materials of animal and plant origin, from agricultural crops, and from seaweed. There are quite a lot of projects for new types of biofuels, they are in varying degrees of readiness. Some of them are very controversial and controversial, especially from an environmental point of view. Today we will tell LG readers about the most interesting developments in this area.
In the beginning there was wood and coal
The very first type of biofuel was ordinary firewood, or rather, dry sticks and twigs, ordinary brushwood, which primitive people, who learned how to start and maintain a fire, were used to warm homes and cook food.
A little later, ancient people discovered charcoal. Charcoal is the non-volatile part of the thermal decomposition products of wood. Historically, charcoal is one of the very first types of fuel (and of course biofuel) purposefully produced by people. A feature of charcoal that is unique to no other fuel is the absence of carbon monoxide in combustion products. Therefore, they began to first collect charcoal from fires, and then prepare and store more on their own. cave people. Primitive methods of preparing coal, consisting of heating specially stacked firewood covered with turf, by burning part of the wood in different versions, existed until late XIX century. This is not the most efficient technology. But this is how charcoal is still made in African countries and Latin America. Europeans modernized this artisanal technology by replacing turf with metal or brick. The simplest devices for preparing charcoal are also available in our country. Their common disadvantages are the release of toxic vapors and gases into environment, low yield of commercial product and inefficient use of apparatus volume.
Modern high-tech charcoal burning equipment eliminates environmental pollution. Modern technologies make it possible to produce coal with different degrees of calcination - richer in volatile substances for everyday use and more calcined for industry. The strength of coal depends not only on the manufacturing technology, but also on the rock. Hardwoods produce charcoal that is more durable than other types of wood. Exist special types coal The so-called holm oak is made from very dense “holm” oak. white coal, especially prized in East Asia. Relatively recently, the production of coal from extruder sawdust briquettes has been mastered. In Asia and Southern Europe it is preferred to regular coal.
To the first generation modern technologies The production of biofuels also includes the processing of agricultural crops containing large amounts of starch, sugars (processed into ethanol) and fats (they are excellent for processing into biodiesel).
The second generation of biofuel technologies began to use grasses, wood and crop residues.
Another direction is the production of biofuels from processed seaweed. The main advantages are that there is no need for land resources, high production speed and high concentration of biomass.
There are three types of biological fuel: liquid, gaseous and solid. The first is alcohols, biofuel oil, biodiesel, ethers. The second is gas mixtures with hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, which are formed during thermal decomposition. The third is wood processing waste and firewood.
The technology for the production of fuel pellets, as well as fuel briquettes, is based on the process of pressing crushed waste wood, straw, husks, etc.
The raw materials enter the crusher, where they are ground to flour. The resulting mass enters the dryer, from which it goes into a granulator press, where wood flour is pressed into granules. Compression during pressing increases the temperature of the material, the lignin contained in the wood softens and glues the particles into dense cylinders.
The production of one ton of pellets takes from 3 to 5 cubic meters of wood waste. The finished granules are cooled and packaged in large bags of several tons or small packaging. There are industrial granules (delivered in bulk without packaging or in huge bags - big bags) and consumer granules (in small packaging, aimed at private and small industrial consumers).
According to the behests of our ancestors
Dry distillation or pyrolysis (decomposition when heated to 450 degrees without air access) of wood is one of the first processes of chemical technology. Starting from the 12th century, it was widely used in Rus' to produce pine resin for tarring wooden ships and impregnating ropes; This trade was called tar smoking. With the development of metallurgy, another trade arose, also based on the dry distillation of wood - charcoal burning to produce charcoal. The beginning of the industrial application of wood pyrolysis dates back to the 19th century; The raw material was only deciduous wood, the main product was acetic acid.
For the production of charcoal, at present, hardwood (for example, birch) is usually used, and less commonly (mainly for complex processing of raw materials) - coniferous wood.
Bird droppings fuel
Biogas is produced by bacteria during the decomposition of organic material under anaerobic (without air) conditions and is a mixture of methane and other gases. The calorific value of one cubic meter of biogas is equivalent to the combustion of 0.6–0.8 liters of gasoline, 1.3–1.7 kg of firewood or the use of 5–7 kW of electricity.
The technology for producing biogas is simple. Biomass (bird droppings, household waste or green mass) is periodically fed into the reactor using a pumping station or loader. The reactor is a heated and insulated tank equipped with mixers. Beneficial bacteria live in the reactor, feeding on biomass, which release biogas. To maintain the life of bacteria, feed is required, heating to 35–38°C and periodic stirring. The resulting biogas accumulates in a storage facility (gas holder), then passes through a purification system and is supplied to consumers (boiler or electric generator). The reactor operates without air access, is sealed and non-hazardous.
Expensive pleasurein small doses
The technology for producing biodiesel fuel is based on the transesterification reaction of any vegetable oil or animal fat in the presence of a catalyst into methyl esters of fatty acids. Rapeseed oil and a number of other crops are used as raw materials. The cost of biodiesel fuel is obviously higher than similar petroleum products, but in regions with a warm climate that ensures successful cultivation of oilseeds and does not have its own mineral raw materials, such production can exist and occupy a limited sector of the market.
Fast pyrolysis turns biomass into a liquid that is easier and cheaper to transport, store and use. The liquid can be used to produce automobile fuel or fuel for power plants. Of the second generation biodiesel fuels sold on the market, the most famous are BioOil produced by the Canadian company Dynamotive and SunDiesel by the German company CHOREN Industries GmbH. However, these projects have so far proven to be financially unsustainable.
A number of experts believe that Dynamotive mixtures cannot in any way be considered diesel fuel. Their high acidity and heavy resin content lead to rapid destruction of engines. The company SunDiesel (Germany) is making attempts to produce diesel fuel from plant materials through the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Technically this is feasible, but economically it cannot compete with mineral analogues.
Big bio races
In the last few years, there has been a lot of discussion about the use of seaweed to be processed into biofuel for cars, an alternative to what we are used to pouring into the gas tank.
Certain types of algae have the ability to convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates, oils and other cellular components using the process of photosynthesis. Unlike soybeans or corn, algae are unusually prolific; they can be grown anywhere, in both salt and fresh water. In addition, there is simply no such thing as a “harvest season” - seaweed can be grown all year round.
It's no surprise that Ford representatives visited Wayne State University's biofuel laboratory, which is developing optimal varieties of green algae for use as a feedstock for biodiesel production. And the Ford Motor Co. researchers themselves. Several alternative fuels, such as ethyl and butyl alcohol, are now being considered.
According to the researchers themselves, a specific production, technological and financial model for producing biofuels has not yet been created.
American scientists are studying the features of using biodiesel fuel in car engines. Biodiesel can be poured into the tank of a traditional diesel car, and the engine will “digest” it. The car will drive the same as with a regular diesel engine. However, diesel engines with the prefix “bio” have disadvantages, and considerable ones: high level nitrogen oxide emissions and higher – 20% – fuel consumption. The increased yield of nitrogen oxide is due to the fact that biodiesel fuel contains oxygen, while traditional diesel fuel does not. To overcome the above shortcomings, researchers from Purdue University have developed a full-cycle engine monitoring system. The main elements of the new system are the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism, which ensures exhaust combustion (analogous to the catalytic converter in the exhaust systems of gasoline internal combustion engines), as well as smart electronic “brains” that can regulate the operation of the engine depending on the composition of the mixture, speed and other factors. The new control system has made it possible to reduce the output of nitrogen oxides to the level of a traditional diesel engine, fuel consumption is also almost equal, but in terms of this indicator the bio is still slightly behind.
The Volkswagen concern has created a prototype car that will make a motor rally across the British expanses, refueling with methane obtained from sewage waste.
The latest technology for producing biofuels for cars was developed by scientists from the famous Argonne National Laboratory in the USA.
The Laboratory's Endurance Bioenergy Reactor is a simple, easy-to-use, portable system in which specially engineered bacteria ingest various biological wastes to produce fuel.
These photosynthetic bacteria, which were engineered by Argonne scientists led by biophysicist Phil Laible, are capable of producing phytol (a type of alcohol) from a variety of sources, including wood pulp, leftover corn stalks, food waste and even sewage waste. Once isolated from the fermentation broth, the phytol, which has physical and chemical properties similar to diesel fuel, is considered a “fully finished biofuel,” meaning it can be used directly in diesel engines and generators without further processing.
Biomass or waste is loaded into a special fermentation tank. Microorganisms living there begin converting waste into energy. Once this process is complete, the bacteria are freeze-dried, packaged and stored with the reactor equipment for the next power generation cycle. It is enough to open the bag of bacteria and pour them into the fermentation tank, and the bacteria are ready to work again.
A prototype reactor can produce fuel (up to 50 gallons per day) for only two to four days.
Aerial bio-adventures
The Pentagon is consistently preparing for full transition US military for alternative fuels. The American military has long recognized the need to find alternative fuel. And in 2006, a group of scientists led by Michael Hornichek was tasked by the Pentagon to conduct a study of the possible consequences of oil shortages. As a result, a report entitled “War Without Oil” was put on the desk of then US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. It contained an indisputable conclusion: american army must jump off the “oil needle” as soon as possible. Only in this way, the document emphasized, would it be possible to maintain American superiority over other countries.
The leader in the development of promising alternative fuels is the Air Force. And this is no coincidence - the Air Force accounts for 54 percent of the total fuel consumption of the US armed forces. Every year the air force burns an average of 700 million barrels of fuel. Therefore, by 2016 it is planned to transfer all planes and helicopters of the US Air Force to partial use of biofuel.
ACJ fuel may become the first new type of fuel to receive a certificate of suitability for aviation use. It is produced by processing ethanol, which, in turn, can be obtained from sugar cane or corn. ACJ fuel is relatively easy to produce and, as a result, quite cheap compared to other types. However, already at the development stage it was criticized. It is argued that some highly technological steps in ACJ production almost completely negate the fuel's environmental benefits.
Another type of biofuel being introduced into the US Air Force is “alcoholic” ATJ (alcohol-to-jet). It is produced from sugars in wood, paper, grass and other plant material, containing a lot of fiber. The resulting sugars are fermented into alcohol, which is then hydrotreated. This fuel can replace the currently used standard aviation fuel.
The tests have now been completed aircraft, operating on biofuels produced from coal and natural gas, as well as from algae, camelina mushrooms or oils of animal and plant origin. This fuel carries common name HRJ (Hydroprocessed Renewable Jet). In December 2011, the US Department of Defense bought 450 thousand gallons (about 15 thousand barrels) of this biofuel, spending $12 million on it.
Most promising direction The development of biofuels for the Air Force is now considered to be the creation of combined mixtures of plant and petroleum components. In other words, a semi-finished fuel is produced from some plant, which has good characteristics, but not sufficient for use in aviation. Then a special complex of additives made from petroleum feedstock is added to it. Additives, of course, can slightly spoil the environmental parameters of the finished mixture, but will significantly increase the efficiency indicators.
In March of this year, the US Navy frigate Ford, fueled with 94,600 liters of new fuel, which consisted of half HRD-76 fuel derived from algae and half F-76 petroleum fuel, left its home port in Everett. , Washington state. He maneuvered until his turbines completely “digested” the new fuel.
In turn, at the Norfolk Naval Base, sea trials of the experimental coastal special operations forces boat RCB-X were successfully completed. It used a composite fuel that was half F-76 fuel and half HRD fuel, which is made from Algae algae.
The possibility of using Algae-based biofuel was tested at the Rimpak 2012 naval exercise held in July last year. The US Army (ground forces) also has its own plans for the transition to alternative energy sources. In particular, by 2025, the American ground forces plan to provide up to a quarter of their electricity needs at their expense. For the needs of the ground forces, a hybrid version of the army's Humvee all-terrain vehicle is being created, capable of running on both conventional fuel and electricity.
The environmental issue when using fuel is extremely important. And the creators of biodiesel came closest to solving it. This is a relatively safe fuel that has low cost and can be produced from renewable sources - plants and industrial waste. That is why it is considered a step towards an environmentally friendly future.
What is biodiesel
Biodiesel is called methyl ester. It is obtained as a result of a chemical reaction, which is based on vegetable oils and animal fats. Although it is created from natural, renewable sources, it physical properties only slightly inferior to real diesel fuel. The engine power when running on diesel fuel is only 8% higher than the same engine running on biodiesel.
To create such fuel, you can use various vegetable oils; there are practically no restrictions. Soybean, sunflower, palm and many other oil options are suitable for this, but rapeseed is considered optimal. The reason for this is not Chemical properties, but the low cost of such a resource.
Interesting! About 1000 liters of oil are obtained from one hectare of rapeseed, so it is considered optimal for the production of biodiesel.
The use of biodiesel is rapidly increasing with the spread of production technology. More than 40 countries are actively developing this idea, because the simplicity of production allows reducing the cost of fuel, and the volume of emissions into the environment will be significantly reduced.
Advantages
The advantages over other types of fuel are obvious. It is an environmentally friendly transportation solution that is made from renewable sources.
It has a number of advantages, including:
- minimum toxic waste during combustion;
- good lubricating properties;
- rapid decomposition of fuel when released into the external environment;
- simple organization of production;
- low carbon dioxide emissions during combustion.
In addition, the use of biodiesel reduces the amount of soot and the exhaust does not have an unpleasant odor. Its lubricating properties are superior to mineral diesel, and its decomposition during external environment will minimize its contamination during accidents and leaks.
Another significant advantage of production is the low cost of one liter of biodiesel. If you do not take into account the costs of installations and so on, it takes approximately $0.3 or 20 rubles to obtain a liter of liquid. Considering the abundant amount of fertile land in Russia, as well as the low cost of agricultural products, this figure can be reduced even further.
The ease of production of biodiesel means that it can be produced even at home. To do this, you just need to take the appropriate components, and then carry out a series of manipulations with them, which makes biodiesel available to everyone.
Production in Russia
More than 40 countries support the production and distribution of this type of diesel engine. This is clean energy of the biological type, which is produced using renewable energy sources. However, in Russia this direction is not supported at the state level.
In our country there are no programs for the production or popularization of biodiesel with government support. But some regions are promoting this solution on their own. Mainly not because of the environmental friendliness of the fuel, but because of the huge boost it will give to agricultural production. In the future, it is planned to build various biodiesel production plants in Russia.
Interesting! About 10 years ago, Russian Railways also intended to switch to such a diesel engine in diesel locomotives, but they did not implement the idea.
The weak intensity of development of this area in Russia is also due to the fact that the country receives large incomes from the extraction of energy raw materials. Therefore, the popularization of such a solution could undermine the economy.
The prospects for Russia's development in the bioindustry are very high if the state moves in this direction. The country is capable of producing up to 5 million tons of biodiesel feedstock annually, in particular rapeseed oil. Of this, about half can be exported, and the rest can be used within the country.
But Since biodiesel is ethanol based, it is subject to the government alcohol excise tax. If this nuance is not corrected, then investments in this direction will not justify themselves, because only one excise tax exceeds production costs several times.
Biodiesel at home
Creating biodiesel at home is possible, although quite difficult. This could be a simple experiment or an attempt to provide yourself with inexpensive fuel yourself. You just have to remember that you are working with methanol and alkali, which is extremely dangerous to health. Therefore, it is necessary to follow safety precautions and use protective equipment.
The creation of biodiesel consists of the following steps:
To produce biodiesel, any oil is used, as well as alkali (potassium or sodium hydroxide is recommended). When cooking, you need to use a catalyst to start the process, which can be methanol.
Important! If used oil is used, impurities must be removed by filtration.
Before you begin, you must remove all water from the liquid. To do this, you need to heat it to 120°C so that it boils away. The oil will splatter during the process, so it is important to evaporate in a half-empty container away from the fire.
Next, alkali and ethanol are added to the oil. The proportion of alkali depends on the mass of the working fluid and is 1%. So per liter of vegetable oil there is about 3.5 grams of alkali. During this process, titration is carried out, in which the amount of fatty acids and the required proportion of alkali are determined.
Next is transesterification. During this process, the mixture is heated to 70°C, which is necessary to speed up the reaction. Heating to 80°C is allowed, which significantly increases the reaction rate, but is unsafe for others. It is important to cover the container to reduce evaporation of the alcohol, but to ensure that pressure is released to prevent an explosion.
As a result, biodiesel floats on top, and glycerin is placed below it. It is easy to distinguish them, because due to the different densities there is a clear line between them. Glycerin is much darker than fuel and hardens at temperatures below 38°C. You can remove it with an additional hose.
The resulting fuel is not perfectly clean; it contains dissolved soap residues resulting from the reaction process. Under optimal conditions, when the water has completely evaporated, soap does not appear, but when preparing it yourself, this is a regular problem. There are several ways to eliminate residues, but the most effective is to settle the resulting biodiesel. It is enough to leave the fuel for a week, after which all impurities will sink to the bottom.
You can check the quality of the resulting biodiesel using a simple acidity test. It is necessary to dip litmus paper into the liquid and determine the state of the medium. The ideal indicator is a neutral acidity of 7.0.
Production through plants
If you choose biodiesel as a permanent fuel for your car, then you can purchase a special installation to save money and simplify the production process. It allows you to create this product at home, bringing it as close as possible to industrial conditions. This option is optimal for long-term savings, because producing fuel without the appropriate equipment is difficult, and the cost of the solution is low.
Biodiesel obtained from such installations has much best characteristics and purity, rather than produced in “handicraft” conditions. It contains a smaller proportion of water, which reduces damage to the engine during operation. Such installations are becoming increasingly common, considered optimal choice in the absence of access to biodiesel.
The production of fuel from waste oil and the features of this process are described here. For better understanding biodiesel production and its features, it is recommended to watch this video:
Biodiesel is a methyl ester obtained as a result of a chemical reaction from any vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel is chemically a mixture of methyl (or ethyl) esters of fatty acids. The starting materials (fats) are chemically glycerol esters of fatty acids.
The main advantage of biodiesel is that it is produced from resources that are quickly recovered.
Biodiesel undergoes almost complete biological decomposition: microorganisms in soil or water process 99% of biodiesel within a month. This product is so safe that even regular kitchen salt can be considered more toxic.
Biodiesel is a major breakthrough in the field of alternative fuels. It is safe, effective and clean. It is easy to prepare and use, which cannot be said to the same extent about other fuels, alternative or mineral.
Biodiesel is an amazing discovery that can make a fundamental change in people's thoughts and make them less dependent on those fuels that are harmful to the environment, limited in quantity and expensive, unlike biodiesel.
Biodiesel, rapeseed
The special attractiveness of rapeseed is that, as a high-energy crop, it serves as the most promising raw material for the production of biological fuel.
In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries, due to special natural and climatic conditions, a fairly high yield of this crop is ensured. Rapeseed oil is the cheapest of vegetable oils. In addition to rapeseed, other oil-containing crops can be used for production - sunflower, corn, etc., but rapeseed is technologically simpler and more economically profitable. The combustion of 1 gram of biodiesel produces 9.5 thousand calories. This is a huge energy potential.
Biodiesel fuel (biodiesel) is a relatively new type of environmentally friendly fuel. Biodiesel is typically produced from vegetable oil and is therefore a renewable energy source. Biodiesel can be used in conventional internal combustion engines without changing their design. It is possible to use biodiesel as an independent type of fuel or in a mixture with conventional (mineral) diesel fuel.
Biodiesel is a methyl ester obtained as a result of a chemical reaction from any vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel is chemically a mixture of methyl (or ethyl) esters of fatty acids. The starting materials (fats) are chemically glycerol esters of fatty acids.
Biodiesel is a golden or dark brown liquid depending on the feedstock. It practically does not mix with water, as it has a low density, not exceeding 0.88 g/cm3. The viscosity of this Biodiesel fuel production technologies and equipment 8
alternative fuel is almost identical to the viscosity of fuel that is produced from petroleum products.
It is used in vehicles in pure form and in the form of various mixtures with diesel fuel. In the US, a mixture of diesel fuel and biodiesel is designated by the letter B; The number next to the letter indicates the percentage of biodiesel. B2 - 2% biodiesel, 98% diesel fuel. B100 - 100% biodiesel.
The use of mixtures does not require modifications to the engine.
Biodiesel production technology:
The first stage is planting and harvesting rapeseed: providing quality seeds before... purchasing rapeseed.
The second stage is the reception of raw materials: the raw materials are tested for the content of erucic acid, weed impurities and moisture. The cost of raw materials depends on this.
Next stage: The raw material (rapeseed seeds) enters the churn, where the oil is separated from the oil meal. Reinartz screw presses. Productivity from 40 to 1800 kg per hour. Meal is used in the feed industry. The oil is then transferred to an etherification plant. The fat molecules that make up rapeseed oil are composed of triglycerides, compounds of the trivalent alcohol glycerol with three fatty acids. To obtain methyl ester, methanol (in a ratio of 9:1) and a small amount of an alkaline catalyst are added to rapeseed oil. The erythification process takes place in special columns. As a result of the chemical reaction, methyl ether or biodiesel is formed, and glycerol is formed as a by-product. Glycerin, purified to 99.8%, is indispensable in the cosmetology and pharmaceutical industries. When processed, calcium sulfate is obtained, which is successfully used in fields as fertilizer. There is also a demand for separated fatty acids.
Using the right technology and the best varieties Up to 2-4 tons of rapeseed can be collected from one hectare, and when processing 2-3 tons of seeds, about 1 ton of biodiesel can be obtained.
Biodiesel obtained from rapeseed has good flammability, which is ensured by a higher cetane number than conventional diesel fuel (“petroleum”), 56.58 instead of 50.52.
When burned, compared to conventional diesel fuel, it emits 10% less carbon dioxide and 50% less soot.
The world leader in rapeseed breeding is Germany. Its varieties occupy almost half of the area in the countries of the European Community. Biodiesel production in Germany increases every year by 40-50%.
The main exporters of rapeseed are Europe, Canada and Australia; importers - China, Mexico, Japan. Bangladesh, Pakistan and several other countries.
Chemical process for producing biodiesel
To produce biodiesel, any type of vegetable oil is used - sunflower, rapeseed, linseed, etc. At the same time, biodiesel obtained from different oils has some differences. So, for example, palm biodiesel has the highest calorie content, but also the highest filterability and solidification temperature. Rapeseed biodiesel is somewhat inferior to palm biodiesel in terms of caloric content, but it tolerates cold better, therefore it is most suitable for European countries and Russia.
Chemically, biodiesel is a methyl ester, which is a product of the esterification reaction of vegetable oil at a temperature of about 50 °C in the presence of a catalyst.
The process itself is, in principle, quite simple. It is necessary to reduce the viscosity of vegetable oil, which can be achieved different ways. Any vegetable oil is a mixture of triglycerides, i.e. esters combined with a glycerol molecule with trihydric alcohol (C3H8O3). It is glycerin that gives viscosity and density to vegetable oil. The task when preparing biodiesel is to remove glycerin, replacing it with alcohol. This process is called transesterification.
The overall reaction looks like this:
CH2OC=OR1
CHOC=OR2 + 3 CH3OH → (CH2OH)2CH-OH + CH3COO-R1 + CH3COO-R2 + CH3OC=O-R3
CH2COOR3
Triglycerides + methanol → glycerol + ethers, MA "Navigator" Technologies and equipment for the production of biodiesel fuel 10
Where R1, R2, R3: alkyl groups.
As a result of the use of methanol, methyl ether is formed, and as a result of the use of ethanol, ethyl ether is formed.
From one ton of vegetable oil and 111 kg of alcohol (in the presence of 12 kg of catalyst) approximately 970 kg (1100 l) of biodiesel and 153 kg of primary glycerin are obtained.
The alkali used is potassium hydroxide KOH or sodium hydroxide - NaOH. For beginners, it is recommended to use NaOH.
European quality standard DIN EN 14214.
TU U 24.1-34582279-002:2006 "DIESEL BIOFUEL"
No.
Indicator Value Determination method
1 Cetane number, not less than 56 according to GOST 3122 or EN ISO 5165
2 Kinematic viscosity at a temperature of 40ºС, mm2/s, within 3.5-5.0 according to GOST 33 or EN ISO 3104
3 Density at a temperature of 15ºС, kg/m3 within 860-900 according to GOST 3900 or ISO 3675:1993
4 Flash point ºС, not less than 120 according to DSTU 4455
5 Mass fraction of sulfur, %, no more than 0.001 according to GOST 19121
6 Coking capacity of 10% residue, no more than 0.3 according to GOST 19932 or EN ISO 10370
7 Ash content, %, no more than 0.02 according to GOST 1461 or DSTU ISO 6884 or ISO 3987
8 Water content, %, no more than 0.05 according to GOST 2477 or DSTU ISO 662 or DSTU ISO 8534 or
EN ISO 12937
9 Passes tests on a copper plate according to GOST 6321 or ISO 2160
10 Oxidation stability at a temperature of 110ºС, hours, not less than 6.0 according to DSTU ISO 6886 or EN 14112:2003
11 Acid number, mg KOH per g, not more than 0.50 according to DSTU 4350 or EN 14104:2003
12 Iodine number, g of iodine per 100g, no more than 120 according to GOST 2070 or DSTU ISO 3961:2004 or EN 14111:2003
13 Mass fraction of esters, %, not less than 96.5 according to DSTU ISO 5508
14 Mass part of linoleic acid methyl ester, %, not more than 12.0 according to DSTU ISO 5508
15 Mass fraction of methanol, %, no more than 0.20 according to DSTU ISO 5508
16 Mass fraction of monoglyceride, %, no more than 0.80 according to DSTU ISO 5508
17 Mass fraction of diglyceride, %, no more than 0.20 according to DSTU ISO 5508
18 Mass fraction of triglyceride, %, no more than 0.20 according to DSTU ISO 5508
19 Mass fraction of free glycerin, %, no more than 0.02 according to DSTU ISO 5508
20 Total glycerin, %, no more than 0.25 according to DSTU ISO 5508
21 Mass fraction of phosphorus, %, no more than 10.0 according to DSTU ISO 5508
22 No mechanical impurities according to GOST 6370
Advantages of using biodiesel compared to conventional diesel fuel.
The main advantage of biodiesel is that it is produced from resources that are quickly restored (oil reserves, for example, are practically irreplaceable). For example, this issue is very relevant for collective farms that process oil; everyone has a pressing question: where to get diesel fuel at the beginning of the season. The answer is simple, make biodiesel from your own raw materials and be completely autonomous in fuel consumption.
Plant origin. We emphasize that biodiesel does not have a benzene odor and is made from oils, the raw materials for which are plants that improve the structural and chemical composition of soils in crop rotation systems. The raw materials for the production of biodiesel can be various vegetable oils: sunflower, rapeseed, soybean, peanut, palm, cottonseed, flaxseed, coconut, corn, mustard, castor, hemp, sesame, waste oils (used, for example, in cooking), as well as animal fats.
Ecology. The strength of biodiesel is also that during combustion it emits much less harmful gases into the atmosphere (biodiesel, compared to its mineral counterpart, contains almost no sulfur (< 0,001 %, тогда как минеральное дизтопливо < 0,2 %)). В мировой практике лимитируется ряд компонентов выхлопных газов, среди них: монооксид углерода СО, несгоревшие углеводороды, окислы азота NOX и сажа. Очевидны преимущества биодизеля по показателям продуктов сгорания: монооксида углерода, углеводородов, остаточных частиц и сажи. В ЕС производство биодизеля давно получило поддержку правительства, так как рассматривается как стратегическое направление развития топливной отрасли.
Biological harmlessness. Compared to mineral oil, 1 liter of which can pollute 1 million liters of drinking water and lead to the death of aquatic flora and fauna, biodiesel, as experiments show, when released into water does not harm either plants or animals. In addition, it undergoes almost complete biological decomposition: in soil or water, microorganisms process 99% of biodiesel in a month, which allows us to talk about minimizing pollution of rivers and lakes during transfer water transport for alternative fuel.
Less CO2 emissions. When biodiesel is burned, exactly the same amount of carbon dioxide is released that was consumed from the atmosphere by the plant, which is the feedstock for oil production, over the entire period of its life. However, it should be noted that calling biodiesel an environmentally friendly fuel would be incorrect. It produces less carbon dioxide emissions than conventional diesel fuel, but it is still not zero emissions.
Good lubricating properties. It is known that mineral diesel fuel, when sulfur compounds are removed from it, loses its lubricating properties. Biodiesel, despite its significantly lower sulfur content, is characterized by good lubricating properties. This is due to his chemical composition and its oxygen content.
Increased engine life. When an engine runs on biodiesel, its moving parts are simultaneously lubricated, which results, as tests show, in increasing the service life of the engine itself and the fuel pump by an average of 60%. It is important to note that there is no need to upgrade the engine.
High flash point. Another technical indicator that is interesting for organizations storing and transporting fuels and lubricants: flash point. For biodiesel, its value exceeds 150°C, which allows us to call biofuel a relatively safe substance. However, this does not mean that it can be treated with negligence
The advantages of biodiesel include:
· Good lubricating properties. Mineral diesel fuel at
When sulfur compounds are removed from it, it loses its lubricating properties.
Biodiesel, despite its significantly lower sulfur content, is characterized
good lubricating properties, which extends the life of the engine. This
caused by its chemical composition and oxygen content. For example,
a truck from Germany entered the Guinness Book of Records, having traveled more than 1.25
million kilometers on biodiesel fuel with its original
engine.
Profitability of biodiesel production
From 150 hectares. you can collect 400 tons of rapeseed, from which 180 tons of oil and 210 tons of cake will be obtained.
After processing 180 tons of oil into biodiesel, a by-product is formed - glycerin in the amount of 27.5 tons.
We receive 198,000 liters of biodiesel.
Production will require 20,000 liters of alcohol, 2160 kg. catalyst.
We reserve 28,000 liters of biodiesel for our own needs.
We sell 170,000 fuel at a price of 20 rubles. for 1 liter = 3,400,000 rubles.
We sell 210 tons of cake at a price of 5 rubles. for 1 kg. = 1050000 rub.
We sell 27.5 tons of glycerin at a price of 25 rubles per kg. = 687500 rub.
revenue will be 5,137,500 rubles.
expenses:
20,000 liters of alcohol at a price of 49 rubles. for 1 liter = 980,000 rub.
2160 kg. catalyst at a price of 23 rubles per 1 kg. = 49680 rub.
salary 3 people 15,000 rubles each per month for the year = 540,000 rub.
electricity 32,000 kW at a price of 4.5 rubles per 1 kW = 144,000 rubles.
total: 1713680 rub.
Conclusion
Biodiesel and its production is one of the most promising and profitable
directions for small businesses, it allows you to get high profits, with
This preserves a favorable ecological environment. Production cycle
practically waste-free, raw materials can be grown on used lands.
After biofuel production, cake remains, which is used as
animal feed and the glycerol phase, which upon purification turns into
pure glycerin.
The profitability of this production is very high, the profit is the difference between
costs of raw materials and the amount received from the sale of fuel. Profitability
This type of business is high, because the demand for biofuel is increasing day by day.
Availability biological species fuel in the energy balance of each country is becoming an increasingly pressing issue in the context of energy and environmental security. Therefore, agriculture plays an important role as a source of raw materials not only for the food industry, but also for the energy industry. Considering Ukraine’s great agricultural potential, it is possible to partially provide itself with its own bioenergy resources, which will help reduce dependence on energy imports and improve the environment.
A better understanding of the biofuels market and its growth prospects requires consideration of the basic characteristics of biodiesel and vegetable oils, taking into account the characteristics of the technological process.
Biodiesel is a type of fuel from renewable sources. It is usually produced from oilseeds, animal fats, and as an alternative, oil waste from the food industry is used.
Rapeseed seeds are most often used as a raw material for the production of biodiesel. Until recently, rapeseed occupied an insignificant place in crop rotations - it was sown mainly for technical needs for the light and food industries. Today, this crop is of priority importance primarily for agricultural enterprises, given the high profitability of production.
Dormouse in Ukraine grows for use in food production, and ripak and soybeans can potentially be widely used technically as a syrup for the production of bio-burning oil. In 2014 The gross harvest of repack reached close to 2198 thousand. t, which is 6.5% less than the achieved level in 2013, although it is perhaps twice as much, lower in the previously analyzed periods (figure).
Seeds produced in Ukraine are completely exported, a small part of them remains for domestic consumption. Thus, in 2014, rapeseed exports amounted to 1,900 thousand tons, which corresponds to about 84.3% general offer seeds, while domestic processing amounted to only 6.8% (domestic consumption - 153 thousand tons) (table).
Thus, we can say that the domestic demand for rapeseed is insignificant, since sunflower is used for food purposes, and sufficient conditions - economic, technical, legislative - have not been created for the production of biofuel.
However, an increase in world prices for oilseeds and vegetable oils should contribute to a further expansion of areas, as well as an increase in their gross yields. Biodiesel is produced by the chemical reaction of vegetable oil and ethanol or methanol alcohol through the process of esterification. Methanol is widely used because it is relatively cheaper than ethanol (the share in the production process is 7.5%). When using ethanol, there may be some difficulty in separating the by-product (glycerol) from biodiesel and increased energy costs.
Technically, biodiesel is characterized as methyl ester of oleic acid. Rapeseed oil is the dominant raw material for its production in Europe. In the US, biodiesel is produced primarily from soybean oil, even though it is present in the same amount as all other vegetable oils and fats combined. In tropical and subtropical countries, a large number of oilseeds are grown, in particular palm oil, coconut oil and jatropha are used for the production of biodiesel.
Where is biodiesel used?
Biodiesel can be easily used as a mixture with diesel fuel in modern engines. A mixture of biodiesel with a share of 20% in diesel fuel (B20) has gained wide popularity, although mixtures with a lower share of biodiesel - 1, 2, 5% - are also used. Pure biodiesel (B100) is in high demand in many countries, especially in Germany. However, at low temperatures, like mixed fuels, it requires the use of special antifreeze safety equipment, since the fuel stratifies with the formation of layers of ice. Another disadvantage is the hygroscopicity of the fuel, that is, its ability to absorb moisture from the atmosphere, which causes corrosion of the elements of the fuel system. Biodiesel is aggressive towards rubber parts, so some engines have to be modified.
In general, biodiesel is safe to use and biodegradable. Its use helps reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other toxic gases into the atmosphere, improve the lubricating properties of diesel fuel and increase the cetane number of mineral fuels.
The quality of biodiesel must meet the requirements prescribed by standards and norms. For example, in the EU, the quality of this type of fuel is determined by the standard EN 14214, which has been in force since November 2003 in all EU countries, and in Germany - DIN EN 14214. These standards are fundamental for car manufacturers to authorize the production of engines that consume biodiesel. In Germany, this standard is included as a technical basis in the government decree “On fuel requirements and its labeling.” Quality control is carried out from production to sales, transportation and use. In Germany, biodiesel can only be sold of a quality that meets this standard. Compliance with quality requirements is regularly checked by the relevant federal state authorities. In addition to state control, Germany has created Working group for biodiesel quality management (German: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitа..tsmanagement Biodiesel e.V. (AGQM)), whose members carry out five-stage control of the biodiesel quality system (on a voluntary basis). Of the approximately 1,900 gas stations available, more than 1,300 are included in this group, and the quality of biodiesel is monitored from production to consumption. The quality requirements for this system are even higher than those required by European standards.
Vegetable oil is also used as fuel, but the properties of rapeseed oil compared to diesel fuel differ significantly, mainly in its high viscosity at low temperatures. Vegetable oil cannot be used for a conventional diesel engine - for this it requires special conversion or even replacement with the so-called Elsbett engine (English - Elsbett engine, derived from the name of the development engineer).
For many technical reasons, mixing vegetable oil with traditional fuel is difficult. However, some tropical vegetable oils, such as coconut oil, which are richer, can be mixed directly with diesel fuel. In tropical regions there is great potential for using a mixture of vegetable oil and diesel fuel without technical conversion of the engine. However, engine manufacturers do not guarantee operation of engines using vegetable oil. In addition, the development of modern engines is carried out in the direction of improving electronic engine control systems and regulation of the combustion process, which, as a rule, are not suitable for operation on vegetable oil.
How to stimulate biofuel production?
To stimulate the development of biofuel production, the governments of many countries are introducing mechanisms to support this area and further development industry for the short or long term. The goals set and expected results from the use of biological fuels differ from country to country, but in general they are united by a triple motivation:
The exhaustibility of oil and the country’s growing dependence on its imports, as well as rising prices for petroleum products;
Increased emissions of carbon and other harmful substances as the main factors of climate change and balance in the ecosystem;
Development of new markets for Agriculture.
In our opinion, it is important to determine the priorities for the development of the biofuel industry and the goals of state policy in this area, which will certainly influence the development and adoption of relevant legislative decisions and will contribute to increasing production individual species biofuels.
The urgent need to develop alternative energy sources within the country is related to acute problems modernity - high dependence on imported energy resources, which affects price instability and affects the well-being of the country's population, as well as the aggravation of the environmental situation due to the annual increase in emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere.
Therefore, in this context, agriculture plays an important role in the development of biological fuels, since it is raw materials of plant origin that are used as a source for their production. In turn, increased competition for agricultural raw materials from industrial biofuel production is leading to heated discussions among governments of many countries on the diversification of agricultural production.
O. Makarchuk, Ph.D. econ. Sciences, Associate Professor, NUBiP of Ukraine
A term like " biodiesel", is understandable to most people purely intuitively. But often there is some confusion. It’s okay, but it’s still better to do without it and figure out what biodiesel is. A little theory During operation, gasoline or diesel fuel is burned in its cylinders. Both are products of oil refining, the reserves of which are limited; in addition, when these types of fuel are burned, substances are formed that are harmful to people and the environment. One option to avoid this is to use biodiesel as fuel for engines. It is necessary to explain what it is. The fact is that the production of biodiesel is based on the use of animal fats and vegetable oils as feedstock. A simple analogy can be drawn: gasoline and diesel fuel are obtained from oil; fuel for operating an internal combustion engine can be obtained from oil or fat.
A small clarification - they can be used as fuel for operating engines. different substances, for example, the same alcohol obtained from sawdust, but in in this case We are considering fuel specifically for diesel engines, and the raw material for biodiesel, as this type of fuel is called, is oil or fat residues.
How to use biofuel?
The use of fat and oil as fuel can be done in the following ways: ✔ Directly, by pouring oil into the tank. The disadvantage of this approach will be its incomplete combustion, mixing with the lubricant and deterioration of its lubricating properties, as well as the appearance of deposits on injectors, rings, pistons due to the increased viscosity of vegetable fuel. ✔ Mixing it with kerosene or diesel fuel. ✔ By converting vegetable oil, the source of which can be rapeseed, corn, sunflower, etc., and ultimately obtaining biodiesel. The oil conversion technology is considered the most complex of those mentioned, but nevertheless, it is so simple that it is easily implemented, thanks to which you can obtain biodiesel at home.What is biodiesel?
In fact, biodiesel is a mixture of esters, mainly methyl ester, as a result of a chemical reaction. Its advantages include: ✔ vegetable origin, thanks to the ability to grow plants, we obtain a renewable source of fuel; ✔ biological safety, biodiesel is environmentally friendly, its release into the environment does not cause any harm to it; ✔ lower emissions of carbon dioxide and other toxic substances; ✔ low sulfur content in the exhaust gases of engines using biodiesel; ✔ good lubrication characteristics.Essentially, vegetable oil is a mixture of esters with glycerin, which gives it viscosity. The biodiesel production process involves removing glycerin and replacing it with alcohol. It is worth noting that the disadvantage of such fuel is the need to heat it at low temperatures or use a mixture of biodiesel and regular diesel fuel.
Production technology
The technology for producing biodiesel is quite simple. It is usually made from various types of vegetable oil. For this, rapeseed, soybeans, corn, etc. can be used; the general list of substances suitable for obtaining feedstock is quite significant. Oil left over from cooking is also suitable for producing biodiesel. A diagram of such a process can be seen in the figure below.
Since we are considering fuel of plant origin, then the technology for its production should cover the process of growing the feedstock. Rapeseed is considered the most suitable for this, as it requires less production costs. Although now there are great prospects for biodiesel from algae. In this case, the land for growing crops for fuel is not used, and the cost of biodiesel will be lower than in other cases. So, the seeds (rapeseed, soybeans, sunflower, etc.) after quality control are supplied to the churn. The meal remaining after oil production can be used by the feed industry, and the resulting oil, as the technology provides, goes for further processing. It is called esterification, and after it is carried out, the biodiesel composition should contain more than ninety-six percent methyl esters. The technology itself is simple, which makes it possible to organize the production of biodiesel at home. Methanol (9:1) is added to the oil, and a small amount of alkali is used as a catalyst. Methanol can be obtained from sawdust, and isopropyl alcohol or ethanol can also be used instead. The esterification procedure takes place at elevated temperatures and takes up to several hours. After the reaction is completed, liquid stratification is observed in the container - biodiesel on top, glycerin below. Glycerin is removed (drained from below) and can be used as a raw material in some other processes. The resulting biodiesel must be purified; sometimes evaporation, settling and subsequent filtration are sufficient. The industrial production process is shown in more detail in the video.
Biodiesel at home
As can be seen from the description presented, the production technology is quite simple and allows you to produce biodiesel with your own hands, to the point that you can obtain fuel at home, and sometimes not only for your own needs. The reasons for taking on such work may be different for everyone, but without touching on them, it is worth noting that biodiesel consumption is only growing around the world. When you make biodiesel with your own hands at home, main problem It will not be a question of its production, but of ensuring the quality of the finished product. Suppliers of raw materials can be public catering enterprises that have a sufficient amount of used oil, and it can be purchased at an affordable price. Growing rapeseed should be done when consuming biodiesel in large quantities, for example, for external sales or the presence of a large fleet of equipment. When organizing production at home, the most pressing problems will be: ✔ Poor output, i.e. no more than ninety-three percent of the finished product is obtained from the original raw materials. This may be due to the characteristics of the installation used at home or the transesterification modes. ✔ Poor quality filtration. This process is quite complex, and in order to obtain high-quality biodiesel at home, special attention must be paid to it. For this purpose, special technologies or adsorbents are used. You can see the installation for the production of such fuel directly in the video.
There are other options for installations for the production of biodiesel at home, manufactured industrially.
Prospects
As already noted, the production of such fuel is only growing. And although the raw material for this is vegetable oil, it is obtained in different places from different crops. In Europe - rapeseed, in Indonesia - palm oil, in America - soybeans, etc. However, the most promising is the production of biodiesel from algae. For their cultivation, both separate ponds and special bioreactors, as well as plots can be used sea coast. In addition, this not only increases fuel production, but also frees up land for growing food. Although biodiesel is made from vegetable oil and not sawdust, it is an excellent substitute for conventional diesel fuel. Especially in conditions of limited oil reserves. And besides, one cannot exclude such an advantage as the possibility of production at home. Despite the fact that in industrial production it is more expensive than diesel fuel, it is nevertheless an excellent alternative fuel for diesel engines.Chemical process for producing biodiesel
To produce biodiesel, any type of vegetable oil is used - sunflower, rapeseed, linseed, etc. At the same time, biodiesel obtained from different oils has some differences. So, for example, palm biodiesel has the highest calorie content, but also the highest filterability and solidification temperature. Rapeseed biodiesel is somewhat inferior to palm biodiesel in terms of caloric content, but it tolerates cold better, and therefore is most suitable for European countries and Russia. Chemically, biodiesel is a methyl ester, which is a product of the esterification reaction of vegetable oil at a temperature of about 50 C in the presence of a catalyst. The process itself is, in principle, quite simple. It is necessary to reduce the viscosity of vegetable oil, which can be achieved in various ways. Any vegetable oil is a mixture of triglycerides, i.e. esters combined with a glycerol molecule with trihydric alcohol ( C3H8O3). It is glycerin that gives viscosity and density to vegetable oil. The goal when preparing biodiesel is to remove glycerin, replacing it with alcohol. This process is called transesterification. The overall reaction looks like this: CH2OC=OR1 | CHOC=OR2 + 3 CH3OH > (CH2OH)2CH-OH + CH3COO-R1 + CH3COO-R2 + CH3OC=O-R3 | CH2COOR3 | Triglycerides + methanol > glycerol + ethers, MA "Navigator" Technologies and equipment for the production of biodiesel fuel 10 Where R1, R2, R3: alkyl groups. As a result of the use of methanol, methyl ether is formed, as a result of the use of ethanol, ethyl ether is formed. From one ton of vegetable oil and 111 kg of alcohol (in the presence of 12 kg of catalyst) approximately 970 kg (1100 l) of biodiesel and 153 kg of primary glycerin are obtained. The alkali used is potassium hydroxide KOH or sodium hydroxide - NaOH. For beginners, it is recommended to use NaOH.Benefits of Biodiesel
The main advantage of biodiesel– this is the fact that it is produced from resources that are quickly restored (oil reserves, for example, are practically irreplaceable). For example, this issue is very relevant for collective farms that process oil; everyone has a pressing question: where to get diesel fuel at the beginning of the season. The answer is simple, make biodiesel from your own raw materials and be completely autonomous in fuel consumption. Plant origin. We emphasize that biodiesel does not have a benzene odor and is made from oils, the raw materials for which are plants that improve the structural and chemical composition of soils in crop rotation systems. The raw materials for the production of biodiesel can be various vegetable oils: sunflower, rapeseed, soybean, peanut, palm, cottonseed, flaxseed, coconut, corn, mustard, castor, hemp, sesame, waste oils (used, for example, in cooking), as well as animal fats. Ecology. The strength of biodiesel is also that during combustion it emits much less harmful gases into the atmosphere (biodiesel, compared to its mineral counterpart, contains almost no sulfur (Biological harmlessness. Compared to mineral oil, 1 liter of which can pollute 1 million liters of drinking water and lead to the death of aquatic flora and fauna, biodiesel, as experiments show, when released into water does not harm either plants or animals. In addition, it undergoes almost complete biological decay: microorganisms in soil or water process 99% of biodiesel within a month. , which allows us to talk about minimizing pollution of rivers and lakes when switching water transport to alternative fuel. Less CO2 emissions. When biodiesel is burned, exactly the same amount of carbon dioxide is released that was consumed from the atmosphere by the plant, which is the feedstock for oil production, over the entire period of its life. However, it should be noted that calling biodiesel an environmentally friendly fuel would be incorrect. It produces less carbon dioxide emissions than conventional diesel fuel, but it is still not zero emissions. Good lubricating properties. It is known that mineral diesel fuel, when sulfur compounds are removed from it, loses its lubricating properties. Biodiesel, despite its significantly lower sulfur content, is characterized by good lubricating properties. This is due to its chemical composition and oxygen content in it. For example, a truck from Germany entered the Guinness Book of Records after traveling more than 1.25 million kilometers on biodiesel fuel with its original engine. Increased engine life. When an engine runs on biodiesel, its moving parts are simultaneously lubricated, which results, as tests show, in increasing the service life of the engine itself and the fuel pump by an average of 60%. It is important to note that there is no need to upgrade the engine. High flash point. Another technical indicator that is interesting for organizations storing and transporting fuels and lubricants: flash point. For biodiesel, its value exceeds 150°C, which allows us to call biofuel a relatively safe substance. However, this does not mean that it can be treated with negligence.